Popular Atlanta craft cookie shop Sugar Shane's closed its shop at Ponce City Market as of December 31. The shop first opened in the market's central food hall in March 2023.
Following its closure at Ponce City Market, Sugar Shane's continues to operate locations on 14th Street near Georgia Tech, on Hammond Drive in Sandy Springs, and on Old Highway 41 in Kennesaw near Kennesaw Mountain.
The locally owned cookie shop recently introduced "cookie tins" which can be shipped nationwide and Shane will be introducing a new experiential baking business called "The Baking Social" in 2026.
La Metro, a tapas and cocktail spot from Chef Hector Santiago, also closed at Ponce City Market as of the end of the year. Santiago, already the operator of El Super Pan, added the tapas eatery to his Ponce City Market presence on October 30, 2024.
The tapas eatery opened in place of South African eatery Biltong Bar which had previously closed in the space. La Metro was believed to have been on a short-term "trial run" that seems to have concluded.
The Ponce City Market El Super Pan will remain open as will a sibling location at The Battery Atlanta.
Ton Ton Ramen & Yakitori and Miso Ko, popular restaurants from chef Guy Wong, are also closing at Ponce City Market this week. Ton Ton, an original tenant at the mixed use project, first opened in June 2016, about a year after it was first projected to so. (Delays on both its space and the project as a whole were said to be what caused the delayed opening.) Sibling sushi kiosk Miso Ko came online in September 2018.
Visits to Ponce City Market and reviews on the market's food stalls suggest Ton Ton and Miso Ko were among the most popular at the development. That said, sources suggest that Wong and business partner Mike Blum were unable to come to mutually agreeable terms on a lease renewal.
Both restaurants are due to close at the end of normal business on Saturday, January 3.
Following their closures, Wong and Blum will continue to operate Ruby Chow's, an Asian fusion restaurant across from Ponce City Market on Glen Iris Drive, as well as Big Boss Chinese on 10th Street in Midtown. There are reportedly plans for Ton Ton to be served elsewhere in the future.
Despite its perceived popularity and success, thriving as a food operator at Ponce City Market is no easy feat. These four closures come on the heels of the closures of French Broad Chocolates and W.H. Stiles Fish Camp this past September.
Are you surprised by the closures at Ponce City Market? Do you think food halls are past their prime? What is your favorite food hall eatery in metro Atlanta?
Please share your thoughts below
63 comments:
The parking situation there is awful and the rents must be high. I could see why restaurants would struggle in Ponce City Market, especially in this seemingly economic downturn which seems to also be impacting restaurants elsewhere in the city (and likely in lower rent spaces) too.
Rent, food cost and labor makes it impossible for most concepts to work. If a restaurant doesn't have a wait at peak hours, it's probably not going to make it (save them owning the property, owners working for free ornsome money laundering operation). Mid priced restaurants in particular will struggle, fine dining might do okay (the rich are getting richer, corporate expenses dinners) and popular fast food concepts (chic fil a in n out etc) will thrive. Going to be a lot of restaurants closing this year whether its leases expiring or just low sales that dont meet operating costs.
I’m so tired of hearing people complain of the “parking situation.” Is it often crowded during peak times? Yes. But, even at those times, I’ve never been unable to find a spot. Get over it, people! You can’t be in an urban setting (which demands density) and expect parking to always be overly abundant. JFC.
We went to Ponce once and weren’t impressed. Over priced fast food I don’t see these types of food halls lasting
I went there a couple of times and decided that I prefer Buford Highway in Chamblee and Doraville, where there is an endless variety of tasty cuisines with parking always available and much better prices.
Sky high rents plus the mayor and other business owners killing rail to PCM is likely to continue this trend.
High rent is the overwhelmingly primary reason, period.
La Metro was really good!
I have had tickets to a show at City Winery and have had to circle the entire parking areas until someone left more than once. It doesn’t stop me from going to shows there, but I rarely (maybe 1x a year?) go there to shop or eat. In a city with a garbage transit system, it IS a factor. I am a former Manhattan resident. It’s not population density that is the issue. It’s parking.
I much prefer parking at Ponce City as opposed to someplace like Krog St Market.
Would you like to hear something crazy?? The Rivian display store located in that prime spot up front pays $35,000 / mo
Oh wow, I never have a hard time getting a place to park. I usually go on weeknights not weekends so maybe that’s why. And I guess if its so busy on the weekends that it’s challenging to find a place to park, there must be a lot of people who aren’t having any economic struggles that can go there. It’s always fun when I go, and I hope only the best for any new business that opens there!
Reading this blog it seems like many great new restaurants will be opening too!! Looking forward to trying new things in the new year!
I have found local Uber in the area to be convenient, fast and inexpensive! That could be an option for those who don’t like to park.
1000000% You can always find a spot!
People rightfully complain about parking in Atlanta because driving is the only way to get to places. It's ridiculous that an "urban setting" like PCM has no realistic public transit. I live just a mile from Emory and the only way for me to get to PCM is by car. It's a complete failure that Atlanta calls itself a "city" and yet has such awful transit.
People rightfully complain about parking in Atlanta because driving is the only way to get to places. It's ridiculous that an "urban setting" like PCM has no realistic public transit. I live just a mile from Emory and the only way for me to get to PCM is by car. It's a complete failure that Atlanta calls itself a "city" and yet has such awful transit.
Nobody goes there anymore because it's just too crowded.
They'll just rename Food Halls into something else and people will think it's the next cool thing. It worked with Food Courts.
Food Halls still have a place for some projects and PCM should be the fit and the demographics match the food concepts and pricing. This one is a bit of a head scratcher. I do think in other places the food hall seemed at the time an easy answer and has failed miserably. I think people are tired of the food halls popping up everywhere and it’s taking the shine away it’s no longer unique. I do think the pop up bars like what we experienced during the holidays is a perfect fit for short term backfill and creates somewhere new to go short term and pushes people there because it’s only open for a limited time.
Dang, Ton Ton was delicious and their yakitori was some of the best I've had
Nobody goes there anymore because of the obvious… and if you’re not willing to acknowledge that, the issue will keep getting worse.
If they'd put the promised light rail on the Beltline there would plenty more access to PCM without the need to park.
Yes, I recently had a friend in town that asked if there were some cool neighborhoods to walk around. I struggled to think of anything besides the 1.5 blocks in VA Highlands and Little Five or East Atlanta. We need more in-town walkable neighborhoods and less food halls/outdoor shopping centers a la Avalon & the Battery.
Sort of funny how things cycle between the benefits of urban v. burbs.
The reason for this mas exodus is the fact that most of these places have been up for renewal and they're being offered a renewal for a 100%+ increase by Jamestown. This is their schtick. They did this to retail too. So all of the independents are starting to leave. They're just trying to pay for the expansions on the backs of their local and loyal tenants.
I go there a couple of times a month! I love the Pottery Barn. I’ve never experienced anything negative. I hope if you did, it wasn’t too awful for you!
I can get there by Uber. Did someone from Uber tell you they couldn’t take you there? Maybe you live too far away?
Well, if they sell one vehicle a month, that covers the rent. Sell two, profit.
@9:51AM the rent is too damn high?
Regarding parking at PCM, here's a tip: avoid the surface lot, enter the parking deck. I've rarely had an issue finding parking during peak hours on the upper parking deck floors. If you're trying to avoid peak hours, arrive at 11AM when (the remaining) restaurants open, and you'll have no trouble at all.
Yes, Krog St is a nightmare for parking. I find myself parking at PCM and walking to Krog St on a nice day. The food options aren't as good either IMO, though the PCM options are shrinking.
Lol. Nobody goes there anymore because it's too crowded? I'm assuming this is a joke and it just went over my head. Too crowded means everyone is going.
Most malls still have food courts and call them that. Excellent Phipps, and no one likes that Food Hall, most people want it to be a food court again with traditional restaurants. I don’t think anyone was fooled by the name change at that one mall.
I’m guessing they probably don’t want an empty building so they are most likely not intentionally trying to empty everyone out, and new tenants always seem to move in.
The cliental that hangs out there is undesirable. People who can afford to dine out have many other options and are not spending money at PCM because they don't feel safe.
You should go to Japan. It is much better there.
If PCM was developed with people who live in the city in mind these places would have less expensive food and cheaper parking. When developers only try to attract tourists and people in the suburbs its appeal wears thin.
The problem with PCM is that restaurants or even shopping are never going to be enough of a draw on their own. Sure, people live at/near PCM and work there as well, but there essentially is no unique draw to get locals to truly consider PCM when making plans. City Winery has some great shows but not 7 days a week. And the rooftop is not nearly fun enough to encourage much repeat business.
I can’t believe how many people say it’s hard to park at Ponce or Krog. Has no one heard of street parking? I watch people circle at Krog and pay to park when you can literally park in Inman park 20 feet away from the lot for free. Same parking at O4W park for Ponce. Maybe the issue is people are lazy?
Why do you assume everybody drives there? It's literally right on the Beltline.
The #2 and #102 buses stop on either side of PCM and a shuttle bus also runs from the North Ave. MARTA station.
Yes, a Japanese dish is better in its country of origin. Thanks for the insight, Gordon Ramsey. Got any other hot tips?
LOL how many decades and how many billions of dollars did it cost to still have an incomplete sidewalk around Atlanta? It's a joke. But taxpayers in Atlanta evidently enjoy getting ripped off and don't hold their leaders accountable to this complete scam. You will NEVER see a light rail system on the Beltline in your lifetime that I can guarantee you.
What is it about the people there that makes people feel unsafe?
You people are hilarious! I knew as soon as I saw the ridiculous number of comments on this post that the majority of you would be griping about parking. CTRL + F shows that it’s been mentioned 20 times so far. What else can we expect from a fake mixed use development in a fake city? LOL!
The “you people” that are “hilarious” are the ones who complain about and/or hate every single solitary business mentioned on this blog.
$6 for a slice is diabolical. $5 for a cookie. GTFOOH.
Agreed. Most people driving to PCM wouldnt even consider taking public transportation because they "feel" unsafe. Now we all know what that means, dont we? Either that, or they dont want to have their trip delayed by 15 minutes by taking public transportation. Here's a thought.....PCM and Krog were not meant to be driven to because they are built on something called The Beltline. If you HAVE to drive there, you should probably reconsider going there.
I want Anon @ 9:51 to say what the obvious is. Don't hide behind the keyboard champ, say it with your chest!
Hey Anon @ 4:15, they have to pay the workers that work there, and selling a Rivian even at MSRP isn't pure profit, they have to pay for the material to make the car. Also the lease is JUST for the space, they have utilities and maybe CAM fees. If it were that easy, you would do it, but because you aren't doing it, and because you speak like that, I can presume that it ISN'T that easy, and that you don't know business.
Anon @ 10:01: Does that mean that Mexicans in Mexico make better Mexican food? Taco Bell isn't authentic? LOL It's like a 7 year old trying to contribute to the conversation.
Anon @ 12:48: I love the way you characterized the city. They DID sell us on the light rail and have absolutely nothing to show for it. Even Charlotte has light rail.
How are you gonna be anonymous AND not explain yourself fully? What isn't safe about PCM? Explain it, or what you say doesn't exist.
Lol, you don’t know business. The retail price of the car includes a profit margin already. Maybe know what your argument is before you comment.
Rivian is not profitable champ. Are you a graduate of Wharton business school? The price of the car includes the profit margin... HA! If you have a wife, does this kind of stuff impress her? LOL
Hi champ! What’s up stud? You are a real champ! Chomp on chimps!
Hi champ! Say it with cheddar cheese! Cheers, champ! Go to Champs sporting goods and tell them you own it, champ! Wink!
The ones who are complaining or are too scared to go there never went there anyway so their presence and their money won’t be missed. They could have used the time they wrote those comments to do something else.
Should be 10cents. Till they stop making dimes
We have 3 cars so we can live where we want, and drive where we want to go. We have no interest in public transportation. So our ONE and LAST trip to PCM was horrendous for parking, and the place we visited was not worth the money we paid to visit it.
People who love taking public transportation should have stayed in New York, and not come here telling us what we should be doing or where we can go.
You're welcome!
They aren’t missing you then, and therefore they don’t give a damn if you never come back again. So stay home with your 80 cars and spoiled brats.
We all know that rents are high in PCM but the real problem with restaurants all around Atlanta is that they were heavily staffed in the kitchen with mostly underpaid undocumented workers. They have vanished because of Trump's ICE squad- employers can go to jail for hiring them. And high profile locations like PCM fare the worst. This is what you get, folks. Good workers are gone.
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